Louise Kenney aims to enjoy her quest to beat Eilidh Briggs bogey

LOUISE Kenney has been here before. Twice, in fact. Now she's hoping it will be a case of third-time lucky when she faces Eilidh Briggs in this morning's final of the 97th Scottish Women's Championship on the picturesque Kintyre coast.

"I've learned a lot from the last two finals and one thing for sure is that I will enjoy it a lot more this time," said the 28-year-old Pitreavie player after setting up her latest tilt at the title in the SLGA's flagship event.

Two years ago, at Southerness, Kenney lost to Megan Briggs in the final and this time it's her younger sister and fellow Kilmacolm member who stands in the Fifer's way, the two contenders for the crown being well aware of each other's game after playing together in the opening qualifying round earlier in the week.

Yesterday, Kenney, a prinary school teacher in North Queensferry, had to dig deep to win her quarter-final against Mortonhall's Rachael Watton, who was then her conqueror's caddie for a more comfortable afternoon passage against two-time British Universities' champion Jane Turner from Craigielaw.

Last year, Watton bowed out to Kelsey MacDonald then caddied for her as the Nairn Dunbar player went on to win the title. "Now I'm hoping she'll be a lucky charm for me, too," commented Kenney, who responded well after three-putting the first to fall behind against Turner.

She repaired the damage straight away by hitting a 6-iron close for a birdie at the second, also won the third after her opponent lost a ball and went two up with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 seventh.

While admitting she'd stepped up a gear from her morning performance - a last-hole success over Drumpellier's Susan Wood - Turner was unable to claw back the deficit against an opponent who hardly put a foot wrong.

And, after hitting another fine 6-iron, this time to six feet, to win the 13th and Turner then took 5 at the 15th, Kenney's place back in the final had been sealed. "If I can play as well as I have so far this week, then I should have a chance," she declared.

Like her opponent, Briggs certainly deserves her place in the 18-hole showdown after she accounted for MacDonald, the defending champion and No 1 seed, in the morning before following that up by coming out on top in a terrific encounter with her older sister. In a match of the highest quality, 18-year-old Eilidh displayed a majestic touch on and around the greens and was three-under for the 17 holes played but still had to hold off a spirited late surge by her sibling. "It's a bitter-sweet win at the moment," admitted the winner. "I'm obviously chuffed to be in the final but it's not nice to see how disappointed Megan is."

Briggs, who was first on to the green to congratulate her sister after her title win over Kenney 24 months ago, has dad Ian caddying for her, but mum Dorothy is the family's non-golfer."She didn't go out and watch Megan in her final so I don't think she'll be watching me either," said the Renfrewshire champion.